Antique Diamond Engagement Rings, Necklace & Pendants

What is the Difference Between a Certification and an Appraisal?
A certification is a survey of your gem that defines or grades certain features or qualities with internationally recognized values. These features are often known by the 4C acronym. An appraisal is a valuation or market price based on this specification.

What Guarantee Does a Certification Give Me?

There are numerous laboratories for certification. Two of the main ones are the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) and the European Gemological Institute. Here at Diamond Doctor we use the GIA exclusively, because that is the Gold Standard in the industry. Yes, they are more conservative. Often by quite a large margin, and thats because they are a totally independent, non-profit laboratory staffed by 900 of the worlds leading diamond graders, scientists and educators, all with a mission to ensure the public trust in gems and jewelry.

The GIA is the creator of the famous 4Cs of diamond value (color, clarity, cut and carat weight) and the birthplace of the International Diamond Grading System, now used as the industry standard. The GIA have graded all of the worlds renowned stones including: The Hope Diamond (45.52 carats), the Taylor-Burton Diamond (69.42), the Alnatt (101.29 carats), the De Beers Millennium Star (203.85 carats), the Centenary Diamond (273.85 carats) and the Incomparable Diamond (407.78 carats).The GIA is also where the White House and the Congress go for definitive answers. It is where the textbooks on diamonds are written.

The EGL on the other hand is partly funded by the European jewelry industry and in our opinion, is not as professional, reliable or accurate as the GIA. Even though the EGL consistently gives higher grades for the same stones and would therefore make our sales price seem more attractive, we are more interested in providing you the equivalent of a Supreme Court ruling on your purchase.A certification is a virtual specification.

What is Certification?
Certified diamonds have been examined by independent experts and had their quality assessed and graded for, among other attributes, color, clarity and cut. The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) and the European Gemological Institute (EGL) are the two main recognized institutions that perform this work. We at DiamondDoctor.com use GIA exclusively and have noted the reasons above under What guarantee does certification and a valuation give me?

Types of Diamonds

There are many different types of diamonds or diamond shapes. You get faceted diamonds which include Round diamonds, Square( princess cut diamonds) Radiant cut diamonds(which are square diamonds with cut corners), oval diamonds , cushion cut diamonds, and marquise and pear shape diamonds. Then you have the step cut diamonds which are diamonds that you can see through, these include Emerald cut and Asscher cut diamonds.

You should only ever purchase a genuine diamond that has grown naturally form the earth, never buy a man made diamond they are cheap and worthless with no demand at all. Some people try and sell clarity enhanced diamonds, you are better off purchasing a Cubic Zirconia than a clarity enhanced diamond, they are virtually worthless.

Diamonds that you purchase for an engagement ring should be certified or graded by an authority independent from the company you are purchasing from, be very sure to only purchase a GIA certified diamond, GIA only. Do not get fooled by other grading certificates you are being taken for a ride if you purchase anything other than GIA.
How to Buy an Engagement Ring?

You must first establish that the company that you are working with is a true wholesaler and that they sell only GIA certified diamonds.

Certification is very very important, if you are not buying a GIA certified diamond rather donot purchase a diamond at all. The GIA or Gemological Institute of America, sets the grading standards for diamonds worldwide and only true wholesalers sell GIA certified diamonds. Tiffanys only sell GIA certified diamonds, so the trick is to find a true wholesaler that can sell you a GIA diamond at a fraction of Tiffanys prices.

Search on the internet under Google and type in diamond wholesaler in your area, once you have found some companies check their better business bearu ratings if they are not part of the BBB then stay away. Call the company and ask them to give you diamond prices over the telephone, if they donot then do not even consider going to them. Ask them if they have a no questions ask money back guarantee and a lifetime trade up policy of equal or greater value(if they say no, you need to spend more money to upgrade, then do not go to them).

Do not let a salesperson pressure you into purchasing EGL or IGI or AIG or GCal diamonds you need to buy GIA only, you must look at six or more GIA certified diamond side by side before you decide on which diamond to purchase, otherwise you can be assured that you are being taken advantage of.